Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
Description
The packaging machinery manufacturing sector produces essential equipment that enables businesses to protect, preserve, and brand consumer goods. These facilities design and build complex automated systems for filling liquids, sealing containers, applying labels, and stacking finished products. Operators in this field typically include small family-owned shops focusing on custom hydraulic presses, mid-sized contractors specializing in injection molding machines, and large-scale industrial firms producing robotic sorting and packaging lines. Major players often serve global markets with high-volume equipment, while regional manufacturers cater to specific industry needs such as food, beverage, or pharmaceutical applications. The scope extends from developing prototype machines to integrating software controls that optimize efficiency and safety. Production involves heavy casting, precision machining, and assembly of components that must withstand rigorous daily operational demands. These establishments frequently collaborate directly with end-users to customize solutions for unique product types or production speeds. Innovation within this domain continues to drive demand for energy-efficient and compact designs that reduce waste during the packaging process. The cumulative output supports the broader supply chain by ensuring goods remain intact and compliant with labeling regulations throughout distribution.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Manufacturing 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The assembling of component parts of manufactured products is considered manufacturing, except in cases where the activity is appropriately classified in Sector 23, Construction. Establishments in the Manufacturing sector are often described as plants, factories, or mills and characteristically use power-driven machines and material handling equipment. However, establishments that transform materials or substances into new products by hand or in the worker's home and those engaged in selling to the general public products made on the same premises from which they are sold, such as bakeries, candy stores, and custom tailors, may also be included in this sector. Manufacturing establishments may process materials or may contract with other establishments to process their materials for them. Both types of establishments are included in manufacturing. Selected industries in the Manufacturing sector are comprised solely of establishments that process materials for other establishments on a contract or fee basis. Beyond these dedicated contract manufacturing industries, establishments that process materials for other establishments are generally classified in the Manufacturing industry of the processed materials. The materials, substances, or components transformed by manufacturing establishments are raw materials that are products of agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, or quarrying as well as products of other manufacturing establishments. The materials used may be purchased directly from producers, obtained through customary trade channels, or secured without recourse to the market by transferring the product from one establishment to another, under the same ownership. The new product of a manufacturing establishment may be finished in the sense that it is ready for utilization or consumption, or it may be semi-finished to become an input for an establishment engaged in further manufacturing. For example, the product of the alumina refinery is the input used in the primary production of aluminum; primary aluminum is the input to an aluminum wire drawing plant; and aluminum wire is the input for a fabricated wire product manufacturing establishment. The subsectors in the Manufacturing sector generally reflect distinct production processes related to material inputs, production equipment, and employee skills. In the machinery area, where assembling is a key activity, parts and accessories for manufactured products are classified in the industry of the finished manufactured item when they are made for separate sale. For example, an attachment for a piece of metalworking machinery would be classified with metalworking machinery. However, component inputs from other manufacturing establishments are classified based on the production function of the component manufacturer. For example, electronic components are classified in Subsector 334, Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing, and stampings are classified in Subsector 332, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing. Manufacturing establishments often perform one or more activities that are classified outside the Manufacturing sector of NAICS. For instance, almost all manufacturing has some captive research and development or administrative operations, such as accounting, payroll, or management. These captive services are treated the same as captive manufacturing activities. When the services are provided by separate establishments, they are classified in the NAICS sector where such services are primary, not in manufacturing. The boundaries of manufacturing and the other sectors of the classification system can be somewhat blurry. The establishments in the Manufacturing sector are engaged in the transformation of materials into new products. Their output is a new product. However, the definition of what constitutes a new product can be somewhat subjective. As clarification, the following activities are considered manufacturing in NAICS: <table width=100%><tr><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Milk bottling and pasteurizing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Water bottling and processing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fresh fish packaging (oyster<br/> shucking, fish filleting);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Apparel jobbing (assigning<br/> materials to contract<br/> factories or shops for<br/> fabrication or other contract<br/> operations) as well as<br/> contracting on materials<br/> owned by others;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Printing and related activities;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ready-mix concrete production;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Leather converting;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Grinding lenses to<br/> prescription;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Wood preserving;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Lapidary work for the trade;</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Electroplating, plating, metal<br/> heat treating, and<br/> polishing for the trade;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fabricating signs and<br/> advertising displays;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Rebuilding or remanufacturing<br/> machinery (i.e., automotive<br/> parts);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Making manufactured homes<br/> (i.e., mobile homes) or<br/> prefabricated buildings,<br/> whether or not assembling/<br/> erecting at the customers'<br/> site;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ship repair and renovation;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Machine shops; and</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Tire retreading.</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td></tr></table> Conversely, there are activities that are sometimes considered manufacturing, but which for NAICS are classified in another sector (i.e., not classified as manufacturing). They include: 1. Logging, classified in Sector 11, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, is considered a harvesting operation; 2. Beneficiating ores and other minerals, classified in Sector 21, Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, is considered part of the activity of mining; 3. Constructing structures, assembling prefabricated buildings, and fabricating at the construction site by contractors are classified in Sector 23, Construction; 4. Breaking bulk and reselling in smaller lots, including packaging, repackaging, or bottling products, such as liquors or chemicals; assembling and selling computers on a custom basis; sorting and reselling scrap; mixing and selling paints to customer order; and cutting metals to customer order for resale are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade; and 5. Publishing and the combined activity of publishing and printing, classified in Sector 51, Information, transform information into a product for which the value to the consumer lies in the information content, not in the format in which it is distributed (i.e., the book or software compact disc). |
| 333 | Machinery Manufacturing 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Machinery Manufacturing subsector create end products that apply mechanical force, for example, the application of gears and levers, to perform work. Some important processes for the manufacture of machinery are forging, stamping, bending, forming, and machining that are used to shape individual pieces of metal. Processes, such as welding and assembling are used to join separate parts together. Although these processes are similar to those used in metal fabricating establishments, machinery manufacturing is different because it typically employs multiple metal forming processes in manufacturing the various parts of the machine. Moreover, complex assembly operations are an inherent part of the production process. In general, design considerations are very important in machinery production. Establishments specialize in making machinery designed for particular applications. Thus, design is considered to be part of the production process for the purpose of implementing NAICS. The NAICS structure reflects this by defining industries and industry groups that make machinery for different applications. A broad distinction exists between machinery that is generally used in a variety of industrial applications (i.e., general purpose machinery) and machinery that is designed to be used in a particular industry (i.e., special purpose machinery). Three industry groups consist of special purpose machinery--Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing; Industrial Machinery Manufacturing; and Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing. The other industry groups make general purpose machinery: Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing; Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing; Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing; and Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing. |
| 3339 | Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing 4-digit industry group | This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing pumps and compressors, material handling equipment, and all other general purpose machinery (except ventilation, heating, air-conditioning, and commercial refrigeration equipment; metalworking machinery; and engines, turbines, and power transmission equipment). |
| 33399 | All Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing 5-digit NAICS industry | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing general purpose machinery (except ventilation, heating, air-conditioning, and commercial refrigeration equipment; metalworking machinery; engines, turbines, and power transmission equipment; pumps and compressors; and material handling equipment). Illustrative Examples: Automatic fire sprinkler systems manufacturing Bridge and gate lifting machinery manufacturing Fluid power cylinders manufacturing Fluid power pumps manufacturing Hydraulic and pneumatic jacks manufacturing Industrial-type furnaces manufacturing Packaging machinery manufacturing Power-driven handtools manufacturing Scales and balances manufacturing Welding equipment manufacturing |
| 333993 | Packaging Machinery Manufacturing 6-digit U.S. detail | The packaging machinery manufacturing sector produces essential equipment that enables businesses to protect, preserve, and brand consumer goods. These facilities design and build complex automated systems for filling liquids, sealing containers, applying labels, and stacking finished products. Operators in this field typically include small family-owned shops focusing on custom hydraulic presses, mid-sized contractors specializing in injection molding machines, and large-scale industrial firms producing robotic sorting and packaging lines. Major players often serve global markets with high-volume equipment, while regional manufacturers cater to specific industry needs such as food, beverage, or pharmaceutical applications. The scope extends from developing prototype machines to integrating software controls that optimize efficiency and safety. Production involves heavy casting, precision machining, and assembly of components that must withstand rigorous daily operational demands. These establishments frequently collaborate directly with end-users to customize solutions for unique product types or production speeds. Innovation within this domain continues to drive demand for energy-efficient and compact designs that reduce waste during the packaging process. The cumulative output supports the broader supply chain by ensuring goods remain intact and compliant with labeling regulations throughout distribution. |
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Index Items
Bag opening, filling, and closing machines manufacturing
Bottle washers, packaging machinery, manufacturing
Bottling machinery (e.g., capping, filling, labeling, sterilizing, washing) manufacturing
Bread wrapping machines manufacturing
Canning machinery manufacturing
Capping, sealing, and lidding packaging machinery manufacturing
Carton filling machinery manufacturing
Coding, dating, and imprinting packaging machinery manufacturing
Food packaging machinery manufacturing
Labeling (i.e., packaging) machinery manufacturing
Packaging machinery manufacturing
Testing, weighing, inspecting, packaging machinery manufacturing
Thermoform, blister, and skin packaging machinery manufacturing
Wrapping (i.e., packaging) machinery manufacturing
How Item Can Help
Manages inventory of complex packaging components like molds and dies across multiple factories, optimizing storage space and reducing material waste through real-time tracking.
Streamlines orders from high-volume distributors and e-commerce clients by automating routing and consolidating shipments to minimize transit costs and delivery times.
Identifies bottlenecks in production schedules and predicts demand fluctuations to optimize order fulfillment rates and reduce equipment downtime.
Item.com Tools
External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 333993.
National Packaging Association
The leading trade association dedicated to advancing the packaging industry in the United States.
U.S. Census Bureau - NAICS Codes
Official government data source defining industry classes and subsectors including the packaging machinery manufacturing sector.
Society of Packaging Engineering
A professional organization focused on the engineering and design of packaging systems and equipment.
